Joyce

English

Etymology

Medieval English given name from Old French Josse, name of a seventh century saint Latinized as Jodocus, from Breton Iodoc, diminutive of iudh (“lord”), from Proto-Celtic *yowdos.

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -ɔɪs

Proper noun

Joyce

1. An English and Irish patronymic surname​.
2. A female given name, associated by folk etymology with joy and rejoice.

Related terms

• Jocelyn

Quotations

• 1860 Mrs Henry Wood (Ellen Wood): East Lynne:

  "It's a curious name," remarked Captain Levison. "Joyce - Joyce! I never heard such a name. Is it a Christian name or a surname?"

  "She was baptised Joyce. It is not so very uncommon. Her name is Joyce Hallijohn. She has been with us several years."

• 1959 Anne Sexton: The Double Image:

  You call me mother, and I remember my mother again,

  somewhere in greater Boston, dying.

  I remember we named you Joyce

  so we could call you Joy.

Translations

an English and Irish patronymic surname

• Armenian: Ջոյս (J̌oys)
• Portuguese: Joice (pt) f

• Russian: Джойс (Džojs)

Further reading

• Saint Josse on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

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Portuguese

Proper noun

Joyce f

1. A female given name, a spelling variant of Joice